futurama's reviews
315 reviews

Much darker than expected. McElroy had great points on toxic masculinity but it could've been executed better. I'm not sure how, but I was left a bit unsatisfied. Still a great book, though! I'm still not sure about Sasha's character. I didn't understand what she wanted or what she had to lose. We know she wants to get back at Cassandra and Blake but does she really? Did she truly want to be a leader? We see Sasha though other people's perspectives (which is the author's point and done well) but I didn't understand who she really was as a person. No character development on Sasha's end. 
My favorite parts were the flashbacks to Sasha and Dyson's childhood. 
This would make a great TV show

I got so far then thought "i don't really care" 

the stories didn't feel connected at all

why did the writing feel so stilted and distant

I read excerpts from movies that were relevant to me so I didn't finish the whole book, even though I'm saying i did. Lots of history and backstory for the romantic comedy! I didn't know anything so I'm not sure if this could better be served in an article series rather than a whole book. I do like how Meslow focused on rom coms that made a historical difference to make the book "last" longer in history. 

I think he missed out on (500) Days of Summer and the indie/hipster manic pixie dream girl trope. I'm so surprised it's missing that I wonder if it was cut for length. I would've loved to hear his opinion on it. 
Rom coms are definitely evolving and I want to hear a longer opinion about Netflix/Hallmark Christmas movies! And rom com tv shows. I guess that shows how influential rom coms are and how they are still alive even after the "golden age." it's a fun and easy read. loved the side bars providing fun facts. 

1. A First Rate Material: A great opener. Love the reveal shock in the beginning. Grossed out by the skin veil. 
2. A Magnificent Spread: I don't agree when readers say Murata is funny but this story did have some humor. 
3/4 A Summer Night's Kiss and Two's Family: Were these stories connected? I know that's not the point, but still.
5. The Time of the Large Star: i liked this short little fairy tale. i'd love a novel out of it.
6. Poochie: the imagery was very funny and very disturbing.
7. Life Ceremony: wow. surreal, emotional, vulnerable, all sorts of stuff. Took a shock/weird concept and made something beautiful out of it. i think the first story tried to do this but didn't pull it off as well. this story covers social/cultural issues and introduces a new concept that almost convinces the reader of its probability. my favorite in the collection. amazing.
8. Body Magic: go Shiho!
9. Lover on the Breeze: a concept that sounds kitschy at first (pov of furniture) but it works. i think it works bc the protagonist almost believes the curtain is sentient, or Murata keeps that option open.
10. Puzzle: another knockout. i really enjoyed the longer stories. the transition of Sanae's transformation into an alien-like creature was really smooth. after reading i looked back at the story and couldn't find an exact transition point. impressive! this story seems like what Murata is all about/the message she tells in her stories. 
11. Eating the City: despite being the most normal story in the book (one the scale of normal this is the closest), i really liked this one! pleasant, almost wholesome. made me want to eat some plants
12. Hatchlings: Hatchlings and Life Ceremony are competing for my favorite story in the collection. Haruka is weirdly relatable because aren't we all switching personalities for others? I think Murata shines when the story's weirdness is relatable, or reveals something about humanity, and this one is the perfect example. 

I didn't like Convenience Store Woman and I really don't understand it when people think Murata's writing is funny. It's very dark. Honestly, I think people assume it's just Japan weirdness. Murata is literally on another planet. I don't like all of her stuff but when I do I love it and I learn. 
I also noticed lots of the friend characters are the protagonist's coworkers, people they are forced to interact with. what would happen to the protagonist if they had no one? 

really plays with the concept of time. stretches time. broken down by Elena's pills

1. The Head: Total shock factor, a risky opening story. can really make or break a reader. i hated it but it grossed me out so it worked.

2. The Embodiment: weird, dystopian story. as they say, kafka-esque

3. Cursed Bunny: absolute favorite. a tale of woe

4. The Frozen Finger: I read this a few times through. really enjoyed it. creepy and mysterious and all around weird. seems like it's straight out of Ligeia mag

5. Snare: A folk tale of morals. very classic. i would say it feels like an old folk tale from another culture, although it's all new. i think?

6. Goodbye, My Love: Classic sci-fi/robot tale. tale of robot sentience and classic robots gain human emotions/empathy

7. Scars: Another favorite. I tended to like the longer ones. A tale of the dark side of humanity. Loved the opening of the boy in the cave. depressing as hell.

8. Home Sweet Home: A twist on the classic haunted house tale. I predicted the twist early on, although I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a twist. really enjoyed. liked the part with the annoying neighbor and the car. true haunted house stories are more about horrific neighbors/tenants, HOAs etc 

9. Ruler of the Winds and Sands: Classic fantasy tale of doing the right thing. Ok. 

10. Reunion: Finally, a story with some vulnerability. A ghost story but not a ghost story.

I finished the collection really liking it but as I review the stories a couple weeks later, I'm not sure if I did so much. A lot of the stories felt like classic tales. Not a bad thing, but nothing super inventive. I'm just off of Sayaka Murata's Life Ceremony and I can't help but compare. Both collections I liked around 3 stories (also the longer ones). In Murata's collection, the stories I liked I really didn't like. However in Chung's, I liked all the stories (yes even the head. i hated it but it was a good story). It's a great collection and I'm having fun recommending it to people (IF they can get past the poop head).